Cabinet or casing structure



Jmw @3 J. W. RACKLYEFT CABINET OR CASING STRUC'IFURE Filed y 1934 ENTOR, JOHN I44 I94 CAL n Patented June 9, i935 UNITED STATES PATENT 18 Claims.

This invention relates to a cabinet or casing structure and in particular to a removable cover for the operating mechanism of a machine.

One of the objects of this invention relates to the provision of a cabinet and supporting structure for a machine having a cover which may be readily moved to one or the other of two positions, one corresponding to the inoperative position of the machine in which the elements of the machine are covered and concealed, and the other corresponding to the operative position of the machine in which the elements of the machine are exposed for use, such cover being formed from a plurality of relatively movable parts arranged so that the cover may be locked in its inoperative position and also arranged with respect to each other so that when shifted to the operative position, the cover parts occupy a minimum of space and they are located so as to in no way interfere with the ordinary use of the machine, such cover parts also being arranged so that when the cover is shifted to its open position, it doessnot materially detract from the appearance of the machine and there is no tendency by reason of the position of the cover parts to cause the machine to tip over.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Stated in general terms, this invention deals with the provision of a machine cover having front and rear side walls, end walls and a top wall, certain of which walls are movably associated with each other to form a box-like cover for the operating parts of a machine for one position of the cover, the elements of such cover being arranged to assume a second position in which the front, top and rear walls of the cover are supported in a vertical position below the level of the machine mechanism at the rear edge of the supporting structure of the machine, such wallparts being closely adjacent to each other with the end walls of the cover projecting forwardly of the same.

With this arrangement, when the cover is shifted to its open position, there is no tendency for the cover to cause the tipping of the machine, as in the case of the well-known box covers which are hinged to a machine and which are rotated either 90 or 180 to an open position, in which position they extend rearwardly of the machine a considerable distance, thereby moving the cen- 4 ter of gravity toward the edge of the machine and making it very easy to tip the machine over.

In. the drawings, Figure l is a side elevational view of a cabinet structure illustrating one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmena tary sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a view correspon to Figure 3, diifering therefrom in that the cover is shown in open position, whereas in Figure 3, no the cover is shown in closed position.

This invention is capable of use inconnection with a variety of devices and while an ironing machine is described herein for purposes of illustrating one manner of practicing the invention, it should be noted that the invention is not limited in its use to ironing machines.

, Referring now to Figure 1, the ironing machine shown in this view comprises a supporting structure in the form of a rectangular base member I, having a leg 2 secured at each of the four corners of the base member. An ironing machine mechanism comprising a padded, rotatable roll 3 and a heated shoe 4 mounted upon a support 5, are operatively associated with a driving mechanism housed within a case 6, carried by the supporting structure of the machine.

Insofar as the invention is not limited to any particular type of ironing machine, or for that matter to ironing machines as a class, the mechanism and operative elements of the ironing machine will not be described in detail as such parts are shown merely to indicate a suitable mechanism which may be selectively concealed or uncovered by the novel cabinet or cover construction f to which this invention particularly relates.

The cover just referred to comprises a top wall or cover top I which may be in the form of a table top of convenient height to which is fixedly attached a pair of end walls 8. A front wall or panel H] is secured to the cover top i by means of a pair of hinges II. The cover top I and a rear wall or panel I2 are secured to each other by means of a pair of spaced hinges 9, and the rearpanel is secured to the base member I bymeans of a pair of hinges l3, one of which is located at the bottom edge at each of the opposite ends of this wall member.

The end walls 8 of the cover are fixedly secured to the top wall I and they are each pivotally connected at I4 to a block l5 slidably mounted upon a rod I6 which is fixedly secured to the base member I by means of a pair of blocks I1, ll, one of which engages each end of the rod IS. The rear vertical edge of each end wall is bent over or turned in at I8 to engage with a correspondingly formed edge 20 of the rear side wall, the inter-engagement of these parts giving an increased rigidity to the cover structure.

A locking handle 2| is pivotally mounted on the front panel of the cover. This handle is fixed to a shaft part 22 traversing the panel of the cover and the rear end of this shaft part is fixedly secured to a link 23, the ends of which are pivotally connnected at 24, 24, to oppositely extending locking bars 25, 25, the ends of which may be moved into and out of engagement with a part 26 fixed with respect to the base member I at a point adjacent the ends of the bars 25, 25. When it is desired to open the cover, the looking bars 25, 25 are first moved to their disengaged position whereupon the front side wall l0 may be folded over onto the cover top 1, whereupon the cover top is pushed rearwardly and downwardly of the machine to the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The weight of the cover parts is counterbalanced by means of a pair of springs 21, 21 carried by the supporting structure at points adjacent the opposite ends of the cover. One end of each of these springs is hooked to amember 28fixedly secured to the underside of the base member I. A link 30 is pivotally secured at 3| to the member 28 and the opposite end of this link is pivoted at 32 to a second link 33. One end of the spring 21 is hookedto the link 33 and this link has an angularly disposed extension 34 which is pivotally secured at 35 to the rear side wall of the cover.

By reason of the arrangement of the parts just described when the cover is moved to its open position, the springs 21 are placed under considerable tension, as is best shown in Figure 4 and when it .is desired to close the cabinet, the potential energy of the springs 21 assists in raising the cover parts to the position shown in the first three figures of the drawings. It should be noted that when the cover is in its open position, all of its parts are closely located with respect to the supporting base of the machine, so the center of gravity of the machine is displaced but very little when the cover is opened and it is as diflicult to tip the. machine over when the cover is opened as it is when the cover is closed.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of cabinet or casing structure shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departure from this invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention" what I claim is:

1. In a machine having an operating mechanism carried by a supporting structure, a displaceable cover for the mechanism comprising a cover top and end walls mounted for movement relative to the supporting structure of the machine, and means cooperating with the cover and the supporting structure for carrying the cover in either one of two positions, one corresponding to a closed position for the cover in which the cover top is located in a horizontal position over the operating mechanism of the machine and the end walls are alongside the ends of the operating mechanism and the other position corresponding to an open position for the cover in which the cover top occupies a vertical position rearwardly below the operating mechanism of the machine and closely adjacent to the supporting structure and the end walls thereofproject forwardly in front of the cover top in a position substantially directly below theirformer position.

2. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having top and side walls, some of which are movably secured to each other and also to said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same, in which latter position one of the cover walls is located closely adjacent to the rear of said support below the level of said operating mechanism and other of the walls of the cover extend forwardly thereof.

3. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having front and end walls movably associated with said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same in which lat-' ter position the frontwall is located closely adjacent to the rear of said support below the level of the operating mechanism with the end walls of thecover extending forwardly thereof.

4. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having rear and end walls movably associated with said support, and means including said support for susi-aining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same in which latter position the rear wall is located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof.

5. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having top, front and end walls, some of which are movably secured to each other and also with said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same in which latter position the top and front walls are located closely adjacent to the rear of said support below the level of the operating mechanism with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof.

6. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having top, rear and end walls, some of which are movably associated-with'each other and.all of which are movable with respect to said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same in which latter position the top and rear walls are located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof.

7. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, .of a box-like cover having top, front, rear and end walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and all of which are movably associated with respect to said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same with the covertop wall located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly of such cover top wall.

8. In a machine having an operating mechanism carried by a supporting structure, a displaceable cover for the mechanism comprising a cover top having end walls fixed thereto mounted for movement relative to the supporting structure of the machine, and means cooperating with the cover and the supporting structure for carrying the cover in either one of two positions, one corresponding to a closed position for the cover in which the cover top is located in a horizontal position over the operating "mechanism of the machine and the end walls are alongside the same, the other position corresponding to an open position for the cover in which the cover top occupies a vertical position rearwardly below the operating mechanism of the machine and closely adjacent to the supporting structure and the end walls thereof project forwardly in front of the cover top in a position substantially directly below their former position. I

9. In an ironing machine having an operating. mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having rear and end walls movably associated with said support, hinge means for securing said rear wall to said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same, in which latter position the rear wall is located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof.

10. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having top, front and end walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and also with respect to said support, hinge means for securing said top and front walls to each other, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same, in which latter position the top and front walls are located closely adjacent to the rear of said support below the level of the operating mechanism with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof.

11. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover'having top, rear and end walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and all of which are movable with respect to said support, hinge means for securing said top and rear walls to each other, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same, in which latter position the top and rear walls are located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof.

12. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a 'box-like cover having top, front, rear and end walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and all of which are movably associated with respect to said support, hinge means for securing said top, front and rear walls to each other, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same with the cover top located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly of such cover top.

13. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a box-like cover having top, front, rear and end walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and all of which are movably associated with respect to said support, hinge means for securing said top, front and rear walls to each other and to said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same with the cover top located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with the end walls of the cover extending forwardly of such cover top.

14. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and also with respect to said support, means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same in which latter position one of the cover walls is located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with other of the walls of the cover extending forwardly thereof, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the cover when it is moved to its open position comprising levers beneath said support pivotally connected to said cover and to said support and a spring associated with said levers and opposing the opening movement of said cover.

15. In a machine having an operating mechanism carried by a supporting structure, a displaceable cover for the mechanism comprising a cover top and end walls mounted for movement relative to the supporting structure of the machine, and means including structure for movably securing the end walls to the supporting structure for carrying the cover in either one of two positions, one corresponding to a closed position for the cover in which the cover top is located in a horizontal position over the operating mechanism of the machine and the end walls are alongside the ends of the operating mechanism, the other position corresponding to an open position for the cover in which the cover top occupies a vertical position rearwardly below the operating mechanism of the machine and closely adjacent to the supporting structure and the end walls thereof project forwardly in front of the cover top in a position substantially directly below their former position.

16. In a machine having an operating mechanism carried by a supporting structure, a displaceable cover for the mechanism comprising a cover top and end walls mounted for movement relative to the supporting structure of the machine, and means including structure for pivotally and slidably securing the end walls to the supporting structure for carrying the cover in either one of two positions, one corresponding to a closed position for the cover in which the cover top is located in a horizontal position over the operating mechanism of the machine and the end walls are alongside the ends of the operating mechanism, the other position corresponding to an open position for the cover in which the cover top occupies a vertical position rearwardly below the operating mechanism of the machine and closely adjacent to the supporting structure and the end walls thereof project forwardly in front of the cover top in a position substantially directly below their former position;

17. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having walls, some of which are movably associated with each other and also with respect to said support, and means including said support for sustaining said cover in either one of two positions, one for covering the operating mechanism and the other for uncovering the same in which latter position one of the cover walls is located closely adjacent to the rear of said support with other of the walls oi the cover extending forwardly thereof. said means including a locking device i'or holding the cover in its closed position, said locking device comprising a bar carried by one of the cover walls and an operating member for moving said bar into locking engagement with said support.

18. In an ironing machine having an operating mechanism, the combination with a support for the operating mechanism, of a cover having rear and end walls arranged for detachable interlocking engagement with each other and movably 

